Looking to lure more employers to his state, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is running commercials in Missouri in which he touts the business-friendly climate that he has helped carve out and dings the Show-Me State’s Democratic governor for blocking tax cuts.
Mr. Perry announced that TexasOne, a public-private partnership that markets the Lone Star State, is paying more than $200,000 for radio and television ads that say companies need the sort of stability that Texas offers.
“Before they invest in the future, they want to know they’re investing wisely,” Mr. Perry says in the ad. “Unfortunately, your governor vetoed a bill that would have lowered taxes and controlled wasteful spending, making Missouri more competitive. Vetoing a tax cut is the same thing as raising your taxes.”
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed a bill this summer that had passed the GOP-controlled Legislature and that would have cut income taxes on individuals and businesses. Mr. Nixon said the proposal, which would have reduced state revenue by an estimated $700 million a year when fully implemented in 10 years, would lead to budgets cuts, including to public education.
Mr. Perry is scheduled to travel to Missouri next week. In the radio ad, he points to Mr. Nixon’s veto as an example of why Missouri is losing out on $40 million a year that leaves the state for Texas.
“Texas has no state income taxes; it has sensible regulations and a fair legal system,” Mr. Perry says in the ad.
Mr. Perry and the “Texas Wide Open for Business” campaign have run similar ads in Illinois and California, which also are run by Democratic governors.
Mr. Perry recently announced that he would not seek another term as governor and has not ruled out the possibility of taking another run at the GOP presidential nomination in 2016.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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